CSEA Retiree News Winter 2019

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NEWS Danny Donohue, President WINTER 2019
CSEA mourns losses of former Retiree Chair Charlie Peritore; wife Bertha Peritore
MOUNT MORRIS —
CSEA is mourning the losses of former Retiree Division Chair Charles “Charlie” Peritore, 94,
who passed away on Dec. 21, 2018, as well as his wife, Livingston-Wyoming Retirees Local 922 member Bertha “Bert” Peritore, 90, who passed away on Jan. 22, 2019.
Charlie Peritore, who
helped found our union’s
Retiree Division during the 1980s, served
our union for about 63 years, both as a state employee and later as a CSEA retiree. In both capacities, he served in numerous leadership roles on every level of our union.
Bertha Peritore was also an active CSEA Retiree member and served as a delegate for her local for about 20 years.
“Charlie served our union and country with distinction,” CSEA President Danny Donohue said. “He proudly served our country in war and peace time, and proudly served our union. His contributions to our union have helped thousands of our members not only retire
in dignity, but live a better life during their retirement years. Bertha also served our union for many years and also helped fight for retirees and working people. We send our deepest condolences to all of their loved ones.”
Proud service
When Charlie Peritore, who was born and raised in Mount Morris, initially joined our union in 1941, CSEA was still known as the Association of State Civil Service Employees. The Association changed its name to the Civil Service Employees Association — CSEA —
in 1946 when we opened our union to local including serving as president of the Craig government employees. Developmental Center Local, on the CSEA
He had been working at the Craig Board of Directors and on the state contract Developmental Center, which became part of negotiating committee.
Finger Lakes DDSO after its closure in the 1980s, But Peritore was only getting started in our for about two months when the United States union when he retired from state service in 1980. entered World War II in December 1941 after the After helping form our union’s Retiree
attack on Pearl Harbor. Division during the late 1980s, he served as the Peritore opted to serve in the war and division’s vice chair before he was elected as the
requested a military leave from the facility’s division chair in 1988.
director, which was granted. During his 21-year tenure as chair, Peritore
From 1942 to 1946, Peritore served in the helped build the Retiree Division to nearly war’s Pacific Theater at le Shima with the U.S. 50,000 members. He retired as chair in 2009. Army’s 413th Fighter Group and the 34th Fighter Charlie Peritore also served as president of
Charlie Peritore
Squadron, including in the battle of Okinawa. For his service, Peritore was awarded the
Meritorious Service Medal, the American Defense Medal and three Bronze Stars. After the war, Peritore continued to serve our country for nearly 25 years through the Army National Guard.
Union strong
During the war, our Association worked hard to secure a labor-management agreement through the state to ensure that state workers who were serving in the war could return to their pre-war jobs after their service.
Thanks to that agreement, Peritore was able to resume his job at Craig Developmental Center, where he remained for 38 more years. During his employment, he had worked as a locksmith and later as a senior maintenance supervisor.
In late 1946, he married Bertha (Barcomb) Peritore. She worked as a clerk at Craig Developmental Center for more than 20 years before she retired in 1983. Charlie and Bertha Peritore were married for more than 72 years before his passing.
Charlie Peritore became active in our union,
Livingston-Wyoming Retirees Local 922 from 1989 until 2009, while Bertha Peritore served as local delegate during the same time period.
After stepping down from local office, the couple continued to attend local meetings and events.
Current Livingston-Wyoming Retirees Local 922 President James Brand recalled the Peritores.
“[Charlie Peritore] was so helpful to me
and offered many suggestions for helping
us continue to run our local,” Brand said. “I couldn’t have asked for better support; he was very professional. Bertha also attended all of our meetings and was an active force in our local.”
In addition to his union and military service, Charlie Peritore was also active in numerous community efforts, particularly on behalf of veterans, and belonged to the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also a strong supporter of The ARC of Livingston- Wyoming counties.
Charlie and Bertha Peritore are survived
by their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and nieces and nephews; Bertha Peritore is also survived by several siblings.